Attachable sleigh-runner.



No. 654 637. Patehtd July 3|, I900.

' J. E. HOBBS.

ATTAGHABLE SLEIGH RUNNER.

(Application filed Jam 18, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheats-She6t l.

X ggvENT-oa 1' uumm's Fans 00.. woroumm WASHINGTON n. c.

No. 654,637. Patenfed July 31,1900. j

J. E. HOBBS. ATTACHABLE SLEIGH RUNNER.

I (Application filed Jan. 16, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSESQ Patented July 3i, I900.

J. E. HOBBS. ATTACHABLE SLEIGH RUNNER.

(Applic'ation filed Jan. 16, 1997.

(No Model.)

jertfrs STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN EDWARD HOBBS, OF NORTH BERXVICK, MAINE.

ATTACHABLE SLElGH-RUNNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters latent No. 654,637, dated uly 31, 1900. Application filed January 16, 1897 Serial No. 619,438. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD Hoses, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Berwick, York county,

tachable Sleigh-Runner, of which the follow ing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct attachable sleigh-runners of sufficient size and strength to be substituted for the wheels on all fire apparatus or on road-machines when used for repairing roads in winter, and on any other heavy vehicles. It is well known that fire engines, hook-and-ladder trucks, and hose-carriages of large size are gener-' ally used on wheels when the'ground is cov ered with snow, because no satisfactory runners to be substituted for their Wheels have ever been constructed, although many attempts have' been made to do so. To construct runners with right proportions of length to height and of strength proportioned to the load which they are intended to carry and that shall be adapted to such engines, machines, or vehicles, and to provide for connecting such runners by a loose-jointed rod, either before the axle or behind it,'or both, as the case may require, in such way as to keep the runners inline and prevent the bending of the axles or the runners, and at the same time supply a substantial brace for resisting the lateral motion of the machine or load when turningcorners, and to provide means for connecting the front and rear runners which shall yet allow the independent movement of each pair and of each runner in each pair, are the objects I seek to accomplish. The connecting-rods for opposite runners described in my former applications lack applicability to runners constructed under this specification. I attain these objects by the mechanism and construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aview in perspective of one of my runners with the hub mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is aview in perspective of two pairs of the runners in position to have'a fire engine placed on them. Fig. 3 isan end of' connecting-rodfset on nose of runner. Fig. 4 is a detail'illusti'ation' of connecting-rod f f sh owmin position on the forward pair of run- Fig. 5 is a detailed view of State of Maine, have invented a new and useful style of At couplingand connecting rod to be used on rear legs of trusses L L of the forward runners, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail of connectingrod ff, showing chain-plate ,to be put over f ,and held between f and the nose of the run her, with check or draw chain g. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of horseshoe-shaped fiat bar 9 clipped under the middle of the axle of the engine, and removable shackle g", with bolt and check or draw chain g. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of horseshoe or U shaped bar 9 with links in each end attached to the check or draw chains 9 g and set astride of transient bolt J. Fig. 9 is a perspective of four runners with attachments; and Fig. 10, a detail View, partlyin section, of one of the standards.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

- H denotes the hub, and M the metal cylinder or sheath thereof; 0, the wooden core. This is the same combination patented to me March 17, 1891, No. 448,430, but without the axle-rest there described. A is the base-bar of the runner, bent up alike at both ends, and S is its steel shoe. B is an upright standard, of wood, having its upper end concave to receive hub H and a tenon on its lower end, which is inserted in a mortisein base-bar A. D is a brace shaped like an inverted letter U, having the ends of its two legs bent outward at right angles to form feet. The hub is held fast on B by the brace D, which embraces it and is drawn tight on it by bolts going through both its feet and the base-bar and others going through its side and the standard B. L is an improved form of duplex ,truss, the bars w and y composing which are riveted or bolted together, the improvement consisting in separating the bars :0 and g which compose it laterally near the crown of the truss far enough to receive standard B and brace D between them on the hub, the crowns .of the bars 00 and y being looped or concave for a seat for the hub. The truss-barsfw and y are held fast to the hub by the looped yokes K K, which have lips turned upon their ends to prevent the clips 71 n n n, which secure them to the truss-barswand y, from slipping off. This combination of the several parts is believed to be strong enough to resist the lateral swing of the machine or load when machine when in use, if it is not desirable-to make the runner long enough for this purpose. When it is found necessary to extend the runners in this way, I use the combination connecting-rod hereinafter described.

In Fig. 2, b denotes a connecting-rod made of around bar of steel one and one-eighth inches in diameter, having loops formed on each end to fit on'the-turned-up ends'of theru'nners both before and behind. I prefer this connecting-rod to any other where it can be used, because-it requires but a few seconds to apply it to the runners and makes the strongest possible loose connection with the runners.

In- Figs. 2, 4,.and 6, f denotes a connectingrod'which I use with the extension-bar E or without it on the rear runners for engines.

It is made of a round iron rod threaded for n uts'on each end and a sheath of gas-gipe,.

which pipe f is interposed between the runners, and the rod goes through both the pipe and the runners. Then the nuts are-screwed on, which press the runners against the ends of the gas-pipe, thus holding them in line,

but allowing them a sufficient independent motion, the hole through the runners being larger than. the rod f. If preferred, the rod can be headed on one of its ends.

Onsome hook-and-ladder trucks it is desi'rable to carry the nose of the rear runner able size.

under the side or foot board of the truck, and on some trucks the nose cannot be more than eight inches high and clear the bottom of the foot-board when going over an uneven road. In such cases this combination-rod cannot be used, because it would be too near the ground,

and I, use a piece of gas-pipe f Fig. 5, of suitable length, either with the ends flattened to-b'e perforated for bolts to go through or having pieces of iron welded in the ends for thesa-me purpose or a flat bar of steel of suit These rods (I use two) are connected to the duplex truss L about one foot above the ground on both limbs of thetrusses in couplings E, provided for the purpose,

which are attached to one of the bolts that go through the truss-bars w and y, binding them together. These couplings ,(see: Fig. 5) are preferably made of flat bars of metal, having their lips e turned up on one end to engage the outer edge of the truss and having their ,inner ends twisted so that when bolted to,

the truss they'shall stand edgewise, and both ends-are perforated for abolt to: go through,

there being an-opening between the two to receive the connecting-rod,which is prevented 1 l the joint thus made.

in Fig. 2.

to go through.

plates may be placed either I of the nose of the runner.

from rattling. by screwing up the nut on the bolt going through both the rod and'the coupling, there being spring enough in the coupling to permit this, but is allowed to work on (See Fig. 5.)

In Fig. 2, g g denote check or draw chains which are provided with screw-buckles g for straining them tight and which connect the hind runners to the forward axle or-transient bolt, as maybe most desirable. buckles are unnecessary when removable These screwshackles described below are used. Hooks for the chains may be bolted to any part of :b'ase-bar Aof. the hind runners, which may "be found most convenient, forward of standard B, or a shacklemay be used with the bolt.

going through the standard, or they may be fastened to the connectingrod, as shown The latter connection ismade'by passing iron rod f'through pieces of metal g which are linked to the chains gat one end and perforated at the other end for therod (See Fig. 6.) These chain- If placed on the inside, they serve as washers for the ends of gas-pipef to bear on. As an attachment for these chains to the forward axle I prefer av horseshoe-shaped flat bar 9 of round-edged steel clipped tothe under partof the'mid'dle; of the axle, as shown on the; axle, Fig. 7,. This bar should form'a half-circlebehind the 'axle, the inside of it being abouttwo and a The chains are-to half inches from the axle. be fastened to the half-round barwithremovable shackles g 9 (shown detached in- Fig. 7) after being drawn as taut as can be done with the hands. When theforward axle is turned around, the shackles g slip around on the half-circle g and the chain's g retain their tension. Another device for connecting chains to the forward: axle is shown in Fig, 8. This consists of a horseshoe shaped iron bar g having links in each end to which the fchains are to be shackled after booking the bar on the transient bolt J at any convenient point. Whenthe 'axle isturned around, the bolt J turns in connection,v and the chains 9 retain the same tension in all positions of the. axle. will work, however, when the transient or king bolt J is forward of the axle.

. In Fig. 2, h h denote an oscillating attachment of the whiffletree to the runners-,, consisting of a long shackle or U-bolt, a link or links, and a hook for the whiffletree. The U'-bolt is placed astride of the forward limb of -truss L and is fastened near the foot of standard B or a little forward ofi-t by a bolt going through the eyes of the U -bolt and the standard or the base-bar A, forming a loose joint. This arrangement places the draft as low down. as it can be, and therefore makes the draft as easy as possible. It permits a inside or outside- Neither of these. plans lateralmotion of the whiflletree and allows it torise and fall, making it easier'for. the-horsesto draw the machine and also making the hanging oft-he harnesses of the horses in the engine-house more convenient, as the Whittletrees can be elevated for that purpose.

R denotes a brake or dog for holding the machine when going down a hill. It is crescent-shaped, working on a bolt which goes through the middle of it and standard B and is to be operated by the same appliance that works the brake on the wheel for which the runner is substituted. The brake should be made in the form of an ellipse or crescent from round-edge tire-steel three by threequarters of an inch, aboutsixteen inches long, having both its ends swaged to form hooks about two inches wide, which should be thin on the point, so as to dig into the roadway when in use. any suitable way, with or without the bar extending upwardly and forwardly from the middle of the brake, as shown inFig. 2, to

the lever-rods, which operate the brakes on the wheels for which the runners are substituted. As these differ on different makes of machines,the mannerof connecting the brakerods with them would vary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A truss formed of two metallic bars bent in their middle in a pyramidal form, and riveted together for a space about midway between their apex and free ends, which are bent inopposite directions to form feet, and their upper segments drawn apart, laterally, and curved downwardly, to form a rest for a spindle-support near each of the ends thereof, yokes passing over said spindle-support, secured by clips near each of their ends to the truss-bars, substantially as described.

2. In combination with attachable sleighrunners, a connectingrod consisting of a round bar of steel of suitable size, having its ends formed into loops adapted to fit over the noses of the opposite runners in each pair of runners, substantially as shown and describd.

3. An attachable sleigh-runner having a hub mounted thereon, said hub supported by a standard rising vertically from the base-bar of said runner and having its lower end secured in said bar, the upper end of said standard cut away to receive said hub, a brace passing over said hub and down along the said standard and having its ends turned outward at an angle and secured to said base-bar, said brace being also rigidly secured to said standard, and braces from said base-bar to said standard from front and rear, substantially as shown and described.

4. An attachable sleigh-runner having a hub supported on a central vertical standard secured at its lower end in the base-barof the runner, its upper end cut away to a depth to receive a hub, a U-shaped brace passing over said hub and secured to the sides of said standard and its lower ends turned out at an angle and secured to said base-bar, a

Its forward end is coupled in duplex truss formed withsupportiug-feet secured to said base-bar at a distance on each side of said central standard and forked laterally at a point below and on each side of said hub and each arm formed thereby curved downwardly to provide a rest for said hub,

yokes passing over said hub and secured at each of their ends to said arms at a point near said hub, substantially as shown and described.

5. In attachable front and rear sleigh-runners having spindle-supports mounted thereon, the combination with said runners, of connecting-rods to hold said runners at a fixed distance from each other, each of the rear pair of said runners provided with chains secured to the front leg of the duplex truss having the spindle-support mounted thereon, said chains provided with screw buckles and joined to a single chain provided with means of attachment to the axle supported by the forward runners, each of the front pair of runners having secured to the central part of the spindle-support thereon, by means of loops, a chain provided at its forward end with means for attachment to a whifiietree, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination in attachable sleighrunners, of a chain secured to the front leg of the duplex truss forming a part of the hub support of each of a pair of rear runners, said chains provided with screw-buckles and joined at their forward ends to a single draw-chain and said draw-chain movably secured to a horseshoe-shaped loop provided with means for attachment to the axle of a vehicle,substantially as shown and described.

'7. In an attachable sleigh-runner a basebar, a standard rising therefrom, a U-shaped brace embracing said standard and provided with a spindle-support, in combination with a duplex truss, substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination in an attachable sleigh runner of base-bar, mortised for tenon of B, standard B, with tenon, brace D, duplex truss, check or draw chains, oscillating attachment, and brake or dog, R, substantially as described.

9. The combination in an attachable sleighrunner of a hub, standard B, brace D, duplex truss, yokes, K, K, clips, check or draw chain, g, U -bolt and hook, connecting-rods, and brake, R, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination with an attachable sleigh-runner, a long U-sl1aped shackle adapted to be secured by a bolt through its open ends to the base-bar of said runner, a link, or links secured to the closed end of'said shackle and means for attaching said links to the whiftletree, substantially as shown and described.

11. In combination with an attachable sleigh-runner, along U-shaped shackle adapted to be secured by a bolt through its open ends tothe central standard of said runner, a

link, or links secured to the closed end of said it shackle andmeans fcri attaching said links t6: el id of said. shackle andcmeafisfof. attaching the whifiletree, s'ubstantiallyas 'shcwni anddce I scribed. x f gshcwnend'described. J v:

12. In comblnatlon svlth an attachable: I I

5 sleigh-runner,alongU-shapd shackle adapt ed to be secured by-a belt throughits'operi "WithSSGSL 1 'r ends to the forward limb of thetruss of said lJOHN' HUMPHBEY, runner, a link, or links secured to the closed 'WAZRREN E. GOODALE.

Isaidflinksltcthe.Whiflietree, subs tgnfial'ly as 10 

